MOSS POINT - History remembers firsts. History remembers movements, mostly, the prominent faces of a movement. Rarely, does history lend credence to those behind the scenes, keeping things together.

Sharon Caples McDougle played a significant role in an important and an iconic moment in history and didn't feel the need to tell her story — until now.

On Sept. 22, 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African-American female to set foot into space for the historic mission STS-47 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Because the space suits were specifically for men, they were typically heavier and for a woman, would require assistance putting the suit on.

Who was it to help Jemison get into her space suit — an adventurous girl from Moss Point, last name McDougle.

McDougle said after seeing the movie, "Hidden Figures," friends told her that she should tell her story, although she felt many people had already known about her efforts.

As a 1982 graduate of Moss Point High School, McDougle said she initially envisioned her career would be working with children.

"As a little girl, I thought I would be doing something with children — maybe like a Kindergarten teacher," she said. "Around junior high, I figured I would be good at that because I had taken care of my nieces and nephews at that time."

Near her junior and senior year of high school, McDougle said she considered being a flight attendant after visiting and staying with her sister for a while in Portland, Oregon. McDougle's love for traveling and seeing the world came true, but in a different form.

"The Air Force recruiter showed up at the high school and I was like, 'that's my ticket out of Moss Point right there,''' she laughed. "After I turned 18 that February, I signed up and once I graduated high school, I was out of here."

As only life can, adversity struck in McDougle's life. After the death of her parents when she was 7, McDougle credited her teachers for providing her with the affection she needed.

"My oldest sister was 23 at that time so she was still young too and I had to realize that I wasn't the only one grieving because she was too, so the teachers really stepped in and helped me to feel good about myself," said McDougle.

Hugs, goodwill, and playing outside in her neighborhood are things McDougle credits for sustaining her through the bad times growing up in the River City.

After seven years and five months in the Air Force, McDougle said an issue in her unit, not the force in its entirety caused her to seek an "early out" because she did not want to be unhappy. After getting out in 1990, McDougle betted on herself and took a leap of faith.

"It was a little scary because I went into the force right out of high school," McDougle said. "Even though I was in the Air Force, the skills I had did not translate into a normal job."

Odd jobs such as cleaning offices and placing stickers on clothing for about five months in California kept her afloat, until one of her Air Force buddies called her the sixth month, notifying her he had been hired at Boeing Airspace.

He then notified McDougle about the job opening that suited her skillset. She called, interviewed for the position, and was hired on the spot.

"Man, I had some angels," she said. "I always say my mom made it happen."

McDougle held that position for 22 years where she was the focal point for numerous firsts and allowed her to build a relationship with Jemison.

She began her career as a Crew Escape Equipment Suit Technician and was responsible for processing the orange launch and re-entry pressure suit assemblies worn by all NASA space shuttle astronauts.

She was assigned to her first mission STS-37 within a year. McDougle was one of only two women CEE Suit Technicians and the only Black technician when she began her career.

When word of Jemison's mission was written on the big board inside of NASA headquarters, McDougle took the initiative and placed her name beside Jemison's, indicating that she would be taking care of getting her prepared for her flight.

"You couldn't choose where you would help, but as soon as I saw her name go up on the board, I wrote my name directly beside hers," McDougle chuckled, "and I dared anyone to say something."

McDougle said the relationship between she and Jemison was one of sisters, no matter her stature at that time.

"She never carried herself with an air around me, she was so cool," McDougle said. "We knew how to turn it on and off when it came to work and the respect level was always there."

Traveling to space is a rigorous task, but Jemison, according to McDougle, seemed not to be affected.

"Usually the astronauts are quarantined for a couple of days until their flight, but they exercise some while in space, but when they make it back, they are normally weak — not Mae though," McDougle laughed. "She strolled off the shuttle, I had a wheelchair ready for her, but she didn't need it. I was amazed."

Other career accomplishments include:

In 1994, McDougle was promoted to the position of crew chief making her the first female and first African-American crew chief in CEE where she was responsible for leading a team of technicians to suit up astronaut crews.

In 2004, McDougle became the first female and first African-American male or female promoted to the position of manager of the CEE Processing department.

McDougle also brought about a pay increase for suit techs who entered after her tenure began.

McDougle said she does not know how she wants to be remembered in history, but said the most important thing people know is that she remembers where she came from.

"I definitely want to be remembered as a native of Moss Point, Mississippi, first and foremost," McDougle said. "The state gets a negative light mostly, but there are a lot of great things coming out of Mississippi."

Sharon and her husband Maronald McDougle celebrated their 25th anniversary this year. They have two children — Dominique, 23, and Corbin, 19. The McDougle family resides in La Porte, Texas, but says they will always call Moss Point home.

Maronald and Sharon McDougle celebrated their 25th anniversary this year. Sharon is a 1982 graduate of Moss Point High School.(Photo: Special to the Clarion Ledger)

History does not acknowledge those who play significant background roles, but maybe now, people will take a closer look at the woman who accompanies Jemison in photos and recognize that she too is a part of "firsts."